Impact-righting gun target

ABSTRACT

An impact-righting target for small bore rifle practice and the like comprising a central master target element and two secondary target elements all being pivoted on a common axis and normally spring-biased into an upright position exposed to the line of fire. Upon being struck by projectiles, the secondary targets pivot rearwardly out of the line of fire and are detained in this position by releasible leaf spring detents. The master target is provided with cams which disengage the leaf spring detents when the master target is pivoted rearwardly by the impact of a projectile, thus enabling the secondary targets to return to the upright position.

Davidson et al.

1451 Oct. 29, 1974' IMPACT-RIGHTING GUN TARGET Inventors: Robert H. Davidson, 15180 Anorra Way, San Diego, Calif. 92129; Donald A. Reisch, 12922 Francine Ter., Poway, Calif. 92064 Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 Appl. No.: 391,644

0.8. 01.. 273/1021 E, 273/127 D, 273/102 AP 1111. c1. F4lj 2/08 Field 01 Search273/l02.l R, 102.1 c, 102.1 B,

273/102 AP, 102 s, 102 R, 102.4, 95 R, 127 D 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l920 Smolens 273/102 AP 7/1951 Foyst ..l 273/l02.l R ll/l968 Lawrence 273/102 AP Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or FirmRalph S. Branscomb [57] ABSTRACT An impact-righting target for small bore rifle practice and the like comprising a central master target element and two secondary target elements all being pivoted on a common axis and normally spring-biased into an upright position exposed to the line of fire. Upon being struck by projectiles, the secondary targets pivot rearwardly out of the line of tire and are detained in this position by releasible leaf spring detents. The master target is provided with cams which disengage the leaf spring detents when the master target is pivoted rearwardly by the impact of a projectile, thus enabling the secondary targets to return to the upright position.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures n-nnnmunl lMPACT-RIGHTING GUN TARGET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to targets comprising multiple target elements which are individually displaced from their normal positions by the impact of projectiles and returned to that position by the scoring of a hit on a particular one of the target elements.

2. Description of Prior Art Several targets have been developed utilizing gravity to return the individual target elements to the firing podisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,784, utilizes a master target which when struck releases any previouslystruck secondary targets, all targets then returning to the original position, under the force of gravity.

There is a need for a simple, reliable, and rugged target that is not dependent for proper operation on fine spring or weight adjustments, or on a multiplicity of interacting moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a target comprising three coaxially pivoted target elements spring-biased into an exposed upright position, and pivotable into a lowered position by the impact of bullets or other projectiles. The two end targets are secondary target elements and are provided with cams having notches which are engaged and detained by leaf spring detents when the side targets are pivoted into the lowered position. The central, master target element is provided with two smooth cams which depress the leaf spring detents and release the ,side target elements when the master target is struck, whereupon all target elements return to the up right position ready for the next volley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear'elevation view of the target assembly;

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The targetv includes a frame, generally indicated at 10, which comprises an L-shaped beam 12 welded or otherwise attached to a mounting bracket 14 which has a depending apertured back plate 16 by which the target is secured to a vertical surface 18 with screws or nails, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The target may also be mounted atop a fence post or similar structure, with the back plate nailed to the rear surface of the post and thus protected from oncoming bullets. The beam 12, whose vertical face must withstand the impact of nearmisses, is constructed of heavy guage steel or similar rugged material.

An axle or spindle 20 is mounted to the frame 10 on posts 22 which are welded to the beam 12, or bolted to both the beam and the mounting bracket 14. The posts each have a bore therethrough to receive the spindle, and axial movement of the spindle is prevented by set screws 24. A central post 26 may be bolted onto the frame, as illustrated in FIG. 3, or otherwise attached to provide supplementary support for the spindle.

Mounted roughly centrally on spindle 20 is a master target element 28 which is essentially planar and nor mally vertically oriented. The master target element has two projecting smooth cams 30 which straddle the central post 26 and have bores therethrough which are dimensined to receive the spindle 20 snugly enough to prevent play but allowing the target element to pivot freely. Adjacent the master target element are two secondary target elements 32 dimensioned widthwise to fit between the master target element and the adjacent posts 22 with clearance enoughto provide all the target elements with some degree of lateral play. The secondary target elements each have a locking cam 34 disposed on the inward side thereof and a lobed cam 36 on the opposite side thereof, cams 34 and 36 being disposed on their respective targets and bored for mounting on the spindle 20 in a similar manner to the cams 30, so that all targets are freeto pivot on the spindle.

All three target elements are urged into the upright position, against the vertical portion of the beam 12, by a spring means such as the specially formed coil springs 38 which individually bias each target element.

A pair of leaf springs 40 are rigidly mounted at one thereof bias against the locking cams 34, which extend below the smooth cams 30.

Each of the locking cams 34 is provided with a notch 44 which is disposed approximately halfway up the cam face when the target element is in the upright position. When one of the secondary target elements is struck into the lowered position by a bullet, indicated at 46 in FIG. 3, one of the detents 42 engages the respective notch 44 and detains the target element in the lowered position as best seen in FIG. 4. The lobed cams 46-, best seen in FIG. 3, strike the beam 12 and prevent the secondary target elements from pivoting much farther than is necessary for the detents to engage, so that the backlash caused by the action of the coil springs 38 is limited and the leaf springs 40 are not unnecessarily strained.

Either or both secondary target elements will be de' tained in the lowered position until the master target element 28 is struck, at which point the smooth cams 30 depress the leaf springs 40, as shown in phantomin FIG. 4, releasing the secondary target elements, and all three target elements return to the upright position ready for the next round. The down curved detent ends 42 of the leaf springs prevent the springs from snagging in the notches as they are released.

The target elements are dimensioned such that when in the lowered position their distal edges fall short of the plane of the back plate 16 so that the target will operate properly when mounted on a vertical surface 18 as in FIG. 3. To add further interest to the target the master target element could clearly be made to resemble a woodchuck or other animal, as are the secondary targets in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The coil springs 38 are preferably identical and thus inexpensively provided, and all of the target elements can be punched out of standard steel stock and machinebent to form the cams so that the target can be very economically manufactured. The rugged construction and dependable cam mechanism will enable the target to withstand the wear of impinging bullets through innumerable uses without requiring repair or replacement.

We claim:

1. An impact-righting target comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a master target element pivotally mounted to said frame;

0. at least one secondary target element pivotally mounted to said frame coaxially with and adjacent to said master target element;

d. each of said target elements being adapted to be pivoted from an exposed first position to a second position by the impact of projectiles;

e. spring means to bias each of said target elements into the first position;

f. releasible detent means for retaining said at least one secondary target element in the second position upon said last mentioned target being struck by a projectile; and

g. release means responsive to movement of said master target element to release said detent means.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said master target element has at least one cam thereon comprising said releasing means.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary target element has a locking cam having a notch therein and said detent means comprises a leaf spring having one end mounted on said frame and the other end biased against said locking cam and positioned to engage said notch upon pivoting of the last mentioned target element into the second position.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said release means comprises a smooth cam on said master target element which displaces said leaf spring away from said locking cam upon pivoting of said master target element into the second position.

5. The structure of claim 1 including;

a. a spindle mounted on said frame;

b. said master target element being pivotally mounted on the spindle;

c. two secondary target elements pivotally mounted on the spindle laterally of said master target element;

d. each of said secondary target elements having a locking cam with a notch therein;

e. said detent means comprising two leaf springs mounted on said frame, each biased against one of said locking cams and engageable in the notch thereof upon the respective one of said secondary targets being pivoted into the lowered position; and

f. said release means comprising two smooth cams on said master target element, one adjacent each of said locking cams, and adapted to depress said springs and release said locking cams upon pivoting of said master target into said second position.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein each of said secondary target elements is provided with a lobed cam so disposed thereon to contact a portion of said frame upon the pivotal movement of the respective secondary target element, thereby defining a limit of said pivotal movement.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein each of said cams has a bore therethrough and said spindle extends through said bores whereby said target elements are journaled on said spindle. 

1. An impact-righting target comprising: a. a frame; b. a master target element pivotally mounted to said frame; c. at least one secondary target element pivotally mounted to said frame coaxially with and adjacent to said master target element; d. each of said target elements being adapted to be pivoted from an exposed first position to a second position by the impact of projectiles; e. spring means to bias each of said target elements into the first position; f. releasible detent means for retaining said at least one secondary target element in the second position upon said last mentioned target being struck by a projectile; and g. release means responsive to movement of said master target element to release said detent means.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said master target element has at least one cam thereon comprising said releasing means.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary target element has a locking cam having a notch therein and said detent means comprises a leaf spring having one end mounted on said frame and the other end biased against said locking cam and positioned to engage said notch upon pivoting of the last mentioned target element into the second position.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said release means comprises a smooth cam on said master target element which displaces said leaf spring away from said locking cam upon pivoting of said master target element into the second position.
 5. The structure of claim 1 including; a. a spindle mounted on said frame; b. said master target element being pivotally mounted on the spindle; c. two secondary target elements pivotally mounted on the spindle laterally of said master target element; d. each of said secondary target elements having a locking cam with a notch therein; e. said detent means comprising two leaf springs mounted on said frame, each biased against one of said locking cams and engageable in the notch thereof upon the respective one of said secondary targets being pivoted into the lowered position; and f. said release means comprising two smooth cams on said master target element, one adjacent each of said locking cams, and adapted to depress said springs and release said locking cams upon pivoting of said master target into said second position.
 6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein each of said secondary target elements is provided with a lobed cam so disposed thereon to contact a portion of said frame upon the pivotal movement of the respective secondary target element, thereby defining a limit of said pivotal movement.
 7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein each of said cams has a bore therethrough and said spindle extends through said bores whereby said target elements are journaled on said spindle. 